The Okanagan Valley is a land peppered generously with lakes of all sizes, of which our town is sandwiched between two of these many bodies of water. The photos above were taken at Skaha Lake (which you may recall me talking about in earlier posts, such as this one), however not on the side the touches Penticton, instead on the opposite end in Okanagan Falls.

The tiny, charming community of Ok Falls is only about fifteen minutes away from Skaha beach in Penticton, and while it might not offer up scads of excitement during the winter months (when the beaches are too cold to swim in, the lake isn't usually solid enough to fish on, and the beloved local ice cream shop is closed for the season), it's still fun to pop out there every now and then for a change of pace and scenery.

On a bitingly cold day a few weeks ago, Tony and I did just that one Sunday afternoon. This was, to date, the coldest day we've ever taken pictures outside on, and I'm not going to conceal the fact that I was shivering up a storm sans heavy winter coat. Knowing that the mercury was hiding that day, I opted to wear my heaviest winter dress (it’s a thick polyester that feels surprisingly like cotton), opaque tights, and of course gloves. I could have used a few more layers though, let me tell you!

Teeth chattering, we both got through this shoot though, and I'm so glad that we did, because I adore the photos that Tony took that day. The icy cold shoreline of Skaha Lake made for a marvelous backdrop against which to let the black, white, green, and brass tones of this winter outfit shine through.

I'm making a conscious effort to both buy and wear more green this year (I love it to pieces and have no idea why I haven't done more of both of those things in recent years), so on this day I opted for verdant accessories. The last time this lovely antique inspired brooch appeared here on the blog, the weather was a whole lot warmer and sunnier, and we were gearing up for a morning spent at the local Penticton farmer's market (which will reopen come May - yay!).

My here necklace is a string of molded beads that I picked up last year for around fifty cents while thrifting. I have several similar necklaces, which I really like and wear fairly often, because the ones I own are free of metal and thus completely safe for someone like me with a nasty nickel allergy.

This dress is a 1980s does 40s/50s L.L. Bean (the first, and to date only, L.L. Bean item I've ever owned) shirtwaist in a classic glen plaid print. The thick, sturdy fabric makes it the perfect frock for those especially nippy days the so often crop up during the second half of the winter, and thus I've been wearing it at least once a week lately.

You may have heard me say before that it can be challenging (due to medical reasons) for me to wear tight things around my midsection, and indeed that is very true, however this awesome quadruple buckle (stretch) belt is not as tight as it would appear. You see, when I bought it a few years ago from Forever 21 in Toronto, I made sure to get a size that would be a little loose even on the tightest notches, that way I could still wear it most days, even if I had to sport it on looser fitting notches. In fact, it's comfier to wear than most of my belts and I've had no trouble keeping it on for as long as 12 hours at a time before. Yippee! Because I absolutely, positively adore it, especially for wrangling in the waist on classic shirtwaist dresses like this one.

I adore these brass studded 1940s gloves (the studs don't go all the way though, so there's no risk of the metal, which could in theory contain nickel, touching my skin) and thought they'd be the perfect pair to accompany the brass on the belt and brooch. The swirling vine pattern is so elegantly pretty, and the longer length makes them ideal for icy winter days when its imperative that your wrists are fully covered.

If this lovely 1940s tilt hat looks familiar, it's because you last saw it just a few months ago as part of my Oktoberfest outfit. I love this hat. I mean, I really, really, really love it! I swear, I have to stop myself from partnering it with darn near every 40s outfit I put together (as I do like to let my other hats, all of which I'm crazy about too, see some action as well). I tend to wear more black during the winter than other times of the year, so for the time being, it really is cropping up more days than not, let me tell you.

As March barrels onward, it's good to know that this is the last true month of winter left. This month will likely still be fairly cold - and potentially somewhat snowy - but soon spring will be here and that means the return of dipping our toes in all these wonderful local lakes - Skaha very much included - once more. I can hardly wait!

Absolutely lovely! And if you are opting to wear more green, that shade is gorgeous with your skin tone and hair color. You're a brave, brave woman -- I'm getting chills just looking at the scenery! I can't believe that spring is SO close. Here in NYC the weather has been much warmer, the sky is much brighter and the furry and feathering critters have been wooing each other. There were two crows just outside my window cuddling and cooing. The male crow obviously won her heart with a special, shiny piece of plastic. HA!

What a beautiful outfit; I especially like the third picture down and the one of you seated on the bench. It's turned incredibly cold here over the past day or so and despite the springlike temperatures, we were suddenly hit by screaming winds and snow in my little part of Blighty.

Jessica,Thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment. It only makes sense that a vintage lovin' gal like you would love some little old lady dolls! I am so happy you visited and doubly happy you loved them! Love the outfit by the way,you look awesome!Hugs,Julie

You're very welcome, Julie, many sweet thanks in turn for your wonderfully nice comments here this week. Your dolls are thoroughly fantastic! Though somewhat different in terms of style and faces, they reminded me a bit of these charming fabric dolls my paternal grandma used to make when I was a little girl, and that just made me adore your darling creations all the more.

So gorgeous!!! Hard to believe that dress is '80s; it looks so elegantly '40s. And green is one of my favorite color for clothing; it will look lovely with your red hair. Hope warm Spring weather find you soon!

Thank you very much, sweet Dakota. I adore 80s does 40s and 50s frocks with a really timeless vibe to them like this classic B&W number. They're a staple in my wardrobe and I always enjoy the fun challenge of trying to make them look especially period (as in 40s or 50s) appropriate as possible.

These snaps were taken back in January, since then the weather has warmed up a bit and the very first sings of spring has begun to appear. Yay! :)

you outfit is the perfect incarnation of march! still winter white/gray/black with a little of the first green. speaking of winter - he´s back again here too. 30 cm snow on top of the teeny tiny first springflowers in my garden....

I love reading all the components of your outfit. It's unique :) you have vintage items, vintage-like and even Forever 21 !And your photos came out great, totally worth the minutes you froze.Oh, and i must ask, what shoe size do you wear Jessica ?

Thank you very much, dear Lorena. I always adore it when fellow fashion bloggers list where the items in their ensemble come from, and am happy to know you like this as well.

Generally speaking (every once in a while, I can go a size up or down, just depending on the brand), I wear a size 8 or 8.5 (regular or wide, again, depending on the brand).

My feet are somewhat hard to fit though, as I have really high arches and they're slightly uneven sized (not to the point where I need a different sized shoe for each, but enough that sometimes I need to go up a size to accommodate the slightly larger foot) and as a result I've learned through (expensive!) experience that buying shoes online almost never works for me. I usually have to try on 50 to 100 pairs of shoes in person to find even just one that fits reasonably comfortably (this issue was even worse when I was a child). Fortunately I do find some from time-to-time, so my shoe wardrobe isn't completely barren. :)

WOW, seems like finding shoes is almost a full time job ;)I had hopes you were a 6. I have two pairs of beautiful vintage shoes, one from Bloomingdales in 60's and another pair from the early 80s that I cannot wear as I am a 6 but I have wide feet. They use to be my great aunt's who is 90 something and I want to give them to someone who would appreciate them and wear them.

It's wonderfully sweet that you thought of me, dear Lorena, thank you very much. Had they been my size, I would have been completely honoured to give your vintage shoes a very loving home.

My feet doesn't look big if you just glance at them, and honestly aren't big by modern standards (in school almost all my friends and I had the same sized feet, and both my mom and sister do as well), but I tell you, things would be soooo much better if I was a size 5 or 6, because so many amazing vintage shoes fall into this range.

Thank you again for your thoughtfulness. I'm sure you'll find a wonderful vintage loving lass with size 6 feet to give them to one day.

My goodness Jessica you look like you have a tiny, tiny waist! That dress look great on you and the hat is the icing on the cake. I've wanted to wear skirt out here too but I don't have any stockings that are thick enough. I could wear leggings but I feel they would look too frumpy. I'm glad it's stating to warm up. Now I'll be able to wear some of the skirts and blouses I've made.

Fabulous outfit! Girl you have some gorgeous hats, we should compare hat notes - we both seem to have a hat addiction lol! Its given me an idea for a blog post - of which I am going to email you about :)

Great dress! And you look so thin in it (or maybe you are just thin; I have never met you for real of course :-)) I also like the gloves you are wearing. But what I love the most, are the green accessories! Green is beautiful!!! Liz

Thank you very much, dear Liz! Awww, you're very kind. I'm petite (5'2") and curvy (I wouldn't call myself thin per se, just average), so not all outfits show off my true figure to the same extent, but I really feel like this one does (thanks in no small part to the stellar wide belt).

Green is awesome, I completely agree! The more I buy and wear it this year, the more I adore it.

Fabulous outfit! I love that you added little flashes of color to bring out your dress. I really believe this helps, especially when taking pictures. The belt goes perfectly with the dress and I would never guess it isn't vintage! How cute are those gloves! It looked like a perfect day for taking pictures. I like it when it is a bit overcast...best lighting:) Tony took great pictures. The good thing about cold weather is that it gives you rosy cheeks. Simply beautiful, sweet Jessica!

Thank you very much, dear Kathleen! Great minds, I tell you, great minds...I was thinking about that very scene from Singing in the Rain while posing with this lamp post (especially since it's the first time I've done so here on the blog). I'm going to have that wonderful song in my head all day now (I say that as a positive thing!).

I'm deeply touched to know that you've been thinking of me, dear lady. My flu has receded somewhat and that's a positive thing for sure. Hopefully I'll have a day soon where I'm feeling well enough to venture out for a little bit again (I'm running out of un-posted outfit snaps, such as the ones I used in today's post, from earlier in the year - all the more reason why I hope such is the case!).

Oh my goodness this is probably my favorite outfit of yours!! The belt is so, so amazing (hopefully as comfortable for you as it is fashionable), and you always have the best hats!! Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Another winner for sure! p.s. green is a lovely color on you, especially in contrast to the hair ;)

Another fabulous outfit post dear Jessica! The green accessories so bring out your eye colour, I do agree you should wear them more often! I made a dirndl skirt in this fabric when I was growing up. I haven't thought of it for years but actually it was a really lovely skirt in a sturdy material, which I later unpicked and made in to a pencil skirt! My mother used to call the weave pattern 'Prince of Wales check', but apparently it's just a variant of the much older Glen check, so your description is the correct one, although I had never heard it called that before. I have now discovered Prince of Wales check often has another colour running through it. Anyway I think we can definitely agree it's a true vintage classic, with very old roots! I have never seen it on such a lovely dress before. I particularly love the rounded collar. I am kind of wishing I had kept that skirt, but I doubt it would fit me now ;)

Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful!!!!!!! These photos are amazing, they definitely look like they were worth braving the cold for. There is something so Russian about these photos, the background looks like it could be a street in St Petersburg and you yourself look like a character out of Dr Zhivago. I love how the belt gives this outfit a steampunk feel and highlights your teeny waist.

Darling gal, thank you very much for your immensely lovely comment! I have a wee bit of Russian blood in my veins (thanks to my paternal grandpa) and have always felt a kinship with Russia and its people, so it warms my heart greatly to know that these images reminded you of scenes from St. Petersburg or the move Dr. Zhivargo (one of my favourite vintage films). That's a truly lovely compliment, honey, thank you again.

These really are beautiful photos. I especially love the photos with the lampposts so neat.

Ps Mmm you have got me craving some Tickleberry's. Many summer treats were spent there. We actually made a trip last year from Sunshine Valley (where we were staying) for my Birthday, because I love the Okanagan area so much. Top of the list was Tickleberry's and Fruit Picking and of course a quick dip in lake.

Hi sweet Stefanie, I love that you've spent time up this Okanagan way and that you've been to Tickleberry's, too, to boot! (Sadly, since developing celiac disease a few years ago, I haven't technically been able to eat any of their offerings, which are not guaranteed gluten-free, any more, but I still enjoy going there all the same still - especially because of the old vintage appliances they have peppered around the outside and inside of the building). If you're ever traveling through the Okanagan again, we should really try to meet up!

Oh I too love seeing all the little quirky decor and the smell of the place is amazing. I will definitely let you know the next time I go to the Okanagan. I try to go every Summer, and I would love to try and meet up. :)

Hi sweet Annie, thank you very much! I don't know what size you wear, but if you ever want to share that point with me, I'd be more than happy to keep my eyes peeled for a glen plaid skirt for you while doing my (many!) etsy and eBay rounds each week.

I am loving your outfit posts lately! Its so nice to see your hair from the back, it really suits you and it looks gorgeously thick and luxurious from all angles. From the back also your outfit looks almost vintagely childlike, if only you had a large wooden hula hoop or something, and I do mean that as a rather ungrammatical compliment! Your waist looks so tiny with this belt and I love the sultry over-the-shoulder glance :)

That's a very cool compliment, thank you, my dear! Anyone who wants to say this nearly 29 year old gal can channel a childlike quality to their look, gets major brownie points in my books! :)

I think this was the first shoot where I really got to see the wig from the back, and I completely agree, it does look so thick (and healthy - I know it's not real hair, but after years of losing my real hair, I can't help but delight in the fact that this hair just looks healthy to me, if that makes sense), which I just adore!!!

You are much heartier (or maybe the word is braver) than I am, my dear Jessica, when it comes to going outside in the wind and cold. There is NO WAY I would be posing for a photo shoot when temps are below 60!!

This outfit is completely and totally beautiful, and I especially love the bright green accent in the jewelry. It really perks things up!

wow you never cease to impress me but here you really left me almost speechless darling!this is what i call perfection from head to toe! the dress alone is one of a kind but how you accessorized it with that hat and those absolutely beautiful gloves this is really art of dressing. i also like the fact that you added that amazing forever 21 belt to your vintage outfit, sometimes you can find great new stuff to complete a vintage look;)kiss,mary

This is a splendid outfit in every way Jessica! I think i love your hat as much as you love your hat! It is spectacular indeed. And i love your dress. Classic and what a gem it is! I swear that every time you do an outfit post, i like your latest one best. But i love all of 'em. So i guess i love all of them best. :) Have a lovely weekend!

Dear Jessica,All these photos look wonderful- the backdrop is simply marvellous, it reminds me so much of my beloved Anne of Green Gables (movies and Avonlea series)winter scenes. The phot of you walking away is just so nostalgic and it shows off your auburn tresses beautifully.

I am in love with those gloves..the contrast trim is wonderful and such a nice detail and your green accessories are a nice splash of colour...you wear green so well!xx Shauna

I'm Jessica, a lifelong lover of all things antique and vintage, especially those from the 1930s, 40s and 50s.

This blog is my visual scrapbook in which I record and share my thoughts on the multitude of sources, people and products that inspire and feed a modern gal's addiction to the past. I also post about the vintage clothes, hairstyles and make-up looks that I adore wearing.

Stay a spell and have a blast as we explore the incomparably fantastic world of vintage history and fashion together.

All images used on this site are credited to their original posters/creators/sources,
however if at any time you would prefer not to see one of your images here, please email me and I'll take it down right away.

PS...I just wanted to say thank you very much for visiting and to tell you that you're equal parts awesome and beautiful.